HHS Secretary Sebelius Invites CEOs to Discuss Skyrocketing Health Insurance Premiums

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has invited CEOs of major insurance companies to a meeting on March 3 to discuss the rising health insurance premiums that are impacting American families and business owners. The invitation comes as experts warn that premiums will continue to increase, with some states experiencing rises of nearly 40 percent. The meeting aims to gather insights from the insurance industry and to find solutions to create a more stable system that keeps costs down for all Americans.

Key Takeaways:

• The meeting will be held on March 3 at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. at 11:30 AM.
• Insurance company CEOs from UnitedHealth Group Inc., WellPoint Inc., Aetna Inc., Health Care Service Corporation, and CIGNA HealthCare Inc. have been invited.
• The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the justification for health insurance premium increases and to explore steps to create a more stable system that keeps costs down for all Americans.
• The meeting aims to gather insights from the insurance industry on how health insurance reform can bring down health care costs and fix the "broken health insurance system."
• President Obama's health insurance reform proposal will be discussed, which aims to give middle-class families and small business owners the health care security they have been losing over the past 16 years.

Statistics:

• Health insurance premiums are increasing in some states by nearly 40 percent.
• Premium increases are not isolated incidents, with significant rises reported in recent weeks.
• 16 years of health care insecurity for middle-class families and small business owners is emphasized in President Obama's health insurance reform proposal.
• The meeting aims to explore ways to drive down health care costs and implement reforms that will add value to the health care system.
• The contact number for questions regarding the meeting is (202) 690-7000.

Sources:

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius's letter to insurance company CEOs.